Now Cuba cowers as Ivan roars on
The island of Cuba is today bracing itself for the arrival of Hurricane Ivan, after the massive storm swept through the Cayman Islands leaving a trail of destruction.
Early reports suggest that thousands of homes in the low-lying group of islands have been severely damaged, and Government buildings also being hit. The BBC quotes the island’s governor Bruce Dinwiddy as saying the damage was “very, very severe”.
Now, having once again gained strength and being upgraded to a category five storm – the highest rating for a hurricane with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour – Ivan is heading for the western tip of Cuba and is expected to strike later today (Monday).
At least a million people have been evacuated from coastal and low-lying areas of Cuba.
In Jamaica, where the hurricane struck at the weekend, at least 20 people are now known to have died. The island’s Government has appealed for international aid after homes and roads were swept away after torrential rain and winds gusting to 200 miles per hour.
Tourism on the island will undoubtedly be hit, but Montego Bay airport has now reopened and Kingston airport is due to open again this afternoon. The runways and communication towers in both airports were left relatively unscathed, according to a statement by the Jamaica Tourist Board.
All eyes are now on Ivan’s next move; latest predictions say it is likely to hit the United States somewhere between the Florida Panhandle and New Orleans, while in Mexico, a hurricane watch is in force for north-eastern parts of the Yucatan peninsula, home to resorts including Cancun and Cozumel.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
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